Montgomery County News, Arkansas - MCNews.online

Montgomery County Quorum Court sets 2020 budget

Montgomery County Board members passed five ordinances related to budget issues and the creation of a road shop foreman position with the road crew.

The meeting opened with the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. After the approval of last month’s minutes and financial report the board hear a presentation from June Davis regarding the Regional Library Board.

Davis shared the role the Regional Library Board plays in relation to the Montgomery County Library. She gave a brief history of the the Regional library System from its inception in 2012 to now.

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The Montgomery County Library is an invaluable resource for the community which offers a variety of services beyond the traditional books that can be found. They are also home to computers available to the public, Wi-Fi, a book club, a Summer Reading Program and various other programs available throughout the year.

The Montgomery County Quorum Court provides funding for the library annually.

JPs approved an ordinance that creates the position of road shop foreman. The inclusion of this new position increases the maximum number of employees on the road crew to 23.

JPs approved four ordinances, two of which were appropriation ordinances. 

The first ordinance established the annual operating budget for the calendar year 2020.

The second ordinance approved appropriations and transfers for several funds for the calendar year 2020. These funds include district court automation fund, assessor’s amendment 79 fund, collectors automation fund, circuit court automation fund, law library, county jail operation fund, drug court fund, boating safety fund, breathalyzer fund, frug control fund, public safety fund, juvenile court fund, maintenance reserve fund, and (JAG) – block grant fund. The ordinance also included transfers from the E911 fund.

The third ordinance projected revenue summaries for the calendar year 2020.

The fourth ordinance appropriated funds from county general to pay compensatory time accrued through November 24, 2019.

Following the passage of the ordinances setting the budget for 2020 Montgomery County Sheriff David White addressed the court about the need to revisit the sheriff’s office and jail budget early in 2020.

The sheriff explained that with the completion of the new criminal justice facility approaching he needs to begin the hiring and training process for approximately seven new employees. These positions will supplement the current employees working in dispatch and as jailers. He added that many of the training courses the employees will need to complete are only offered at certain times of the year. This would have an affect on when he would have to fill the positions.

The JPs agreed to revisit the issue during their February meeting.

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